Fabric



Feb. 2s, 1935. C E, FNK 1,992,884

FABRI C Filed June 19, 1934 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED y STATES gPATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to fabrics of the woven coiled strand type and has for the primary object the provision of a fabric which will have maximum strength and flexibility and when injured 5 or torn may be repaired more readily than similar fabric.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for reinforcing the coiled strands of one formation of the fabric and which connects to said strands coiled strands of an opposite coiled formation presenting to the faces of the fabric strands of oppositely coiled formation.

With these and other objects in View this inverition consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For acomplete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating fabric constructed in accordance with my in- Vention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan View showing the interconnected strands of the fabric.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing strands of an opposite formation to the strands disclosed in Figure 3 and adapted to reinforce the latternamed strands.

Figure 5 is afragmentary plan View illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Referring in detail tothe drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a fabric unit consisting of coiled strands 11 of the same formation screwed one intoanother and arranged in pairs with the ends of the strands of said pairs suitably connected. Extending through the convolutions of the pairs of strands are reinforcing rods or elements 12 to strengthen the latter and provide mediums on which the strands may hinge during the flexing of the fabric unit, Nested in the strands 11 are coiled strands 13 of an opposite coiled formation from the strands 11 and have rods or elements 12 extending through the con- Volutions thereof whereby the strands 13 are connected and held in nested relation to the strands 1l and are permitted to hinge relative to each other during the flexing of the fabric unit 10. The strands 13 are placed in or nested within the strands 11 from opposite faces of the fabric unit 10 and are staggered relative to each other so that the fabric will have presented in its opposite faces coiled strands of oppositely coiled formation. The strands 13 cooperate with the strands 11 and the rods in forming a fabric useful for many purposes and is especially adapted for conveyor belts capable of withstanding excessive loads and internal strains. A belt constructed from fabric of the described character will when traveling in contact with supporting surfaces be caused to travel in a straight course being kept from creeping laterally in either direction by the strands of oppositely coiled formation contacting one after another with said surfaces.

Frequently conveyor belts of fabric construction are subjected to heavy loads and strains resulting in comparatively rapid wear and frequently become torn byhanging or catching into an object. Therefore, it is very advantageous to be able to repair the fabric so that the life` of `such belts may be materially increased. A belt made from fabric of the herein described character besides being able to withstand greater strains and loads than similarly constructed fabrics may be readily repaired when worn or injured due to the ease and rapidity in which any one of the elements and strands may be removed and replaced in the fabric.

Referring to my modified form of invention shown in Figure 5, the strands 14 and 15 are of oppositely coiled formation and are nested in accordance with the showing in Figure 1 and the rods or elements 16 pass through the convolutions thereof to hingedly connect said strands in fabric formation. None of the strands of the fabric are screwed into one anotheras heretofore described in my other form of invention. The nested strands are held from separation by said rods or elements 16 and by the strands of one fo-rmation being alternatingly positioned in the convolutions of the strands of the other formation from opposite faces of the fabric. A fabric thus constructed will have flexibility and durability and may be easily repaired when injured or worn.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

i. A fabric comprising pairs of coiled strands of opposite formation nested one within the other; and elements extending through the convolutions of the strands of adjacent pairs for hingedly connecting said strands.

2. A fabric comprising coiled strands of one formation, elements extending through the convolutions of said strands to hingedly connect the latter in a fabric unit and provide reinforcement thereto, and strands reversely coiled to said firstnamed strands and having the elements extending through the convolutions thereof, said second strands nesting into the first strands from opposite sides of the fabric unit and arranged in staggered relation to each other.

3. A fabric comprising interwoven strands of one coiled formation to provide a fabric unit, strands of an opposite coiled formation from the strands of the fabric unit and nested in the latter-named strands from opposite sides of the fabric unit and staggeredly arranged relative to each other, and means connecting said oppositely coiled strands.

4. A fabric comprising interwoven strands of one coiled formation to provide a fabric unit, strands of an opposite coiled formation from the strands of the fabric unit and nested in the latternamed strands from opposite sides of the fabric unit and staggeredly arranged relative to each other, and means connecting said oppositely coiled strands and extending through the convolutions of the interwoven strands.

5. A fabric comprising interwoven strands of one coiled.v formation to provide a layer, strands of an opposite coiled formation from the strands of the layer and nested in the latter-named strands from opposite sides of the layer and staggeredly arranged relative to each other, and reinforcing elernents extending through the' convolutions of the strands for retaining the latter in nested relation and providing mediums on which the strands may hinge and connecting said second-named strands to each other.

CLARENCE E. PINK. 

